halsey



J. E. HALSEY.

Muzzle-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented July 8, 1856.

UNITED sTATns FATE r FFIC.

JAS. E. HALSEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIREARM.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,292, dated July 8, 1856.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES EDWIN HAL- SEY, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Firearms; and I hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 represents the breech of a rifle with my improvement, and Fig.2 a longitudinal section of the same with a portion of the barrelattached.

The letters of reference indicate the same parts in the differentfigures wherever they occur.

The nature of my invention consists in the use of a tubularcommunication from the point where the priming is fired, whichterminates at or near the forward end of the charge of powder, for thepurpose of igniting the powder from the front backward, in firearmsloaded in the usual manner with loose powder or common cartridges;whereby important advantages are secured as hereinafter described.

The drawings above mentioned show my improvement as applied to a commonrifle. It is constructed as follows: A tube (a) is screwed or otherwisesecurely fastened into the breech Z), its axis corresponding with thatof the bore 0. Its length is such that it will extend nearly through thecharge of powder 6. It communicates at its rear end with an angular tube(6,) which meets the tube of the nipple, '11., thus forming a continuoustube extending from the nipple to or near the forward end of the chargeof powder. In loading, the tube will become filled with powder. Thiswill be ignited in the present instance by the cap to be placed on thenipple. The fire will be communicated to the forward portion of thecharge instead of the rear as usual; thus insuring the burning of allthe powder before any portion of it is blown out of the barrel, givingconsequently a greater range and more force of penetration to a ball.Vith shot guns greater regularity in the dispersion of the shot isattained. V'Vith revolvers where the nipple is placed in the rear of thebarrel, and with the same axis, a mere continuation of the nipple aproper distance into the interior will form the tube.

The advantageous application of my invention is not confined to smallarms with percussion or flint locks.

With slight modifications which will readily suggest themselves, myimprovement can be used with cannon, and mortars of almost everydescription (with or without locks) with greatly increased efliciency.

I do not claim igniting the charge in the center, nor in its wholelength simultaneously, nor at its forward end when a needle is used toexplode a fulminate, placed in the gall or between the ball and thepowder,

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

The tube a, constructed of such a length, and placed in such position,that it shall serve as a means of communicating fire from the cap to theforward end of the charge of powder only, substantially as described andfor the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this21st day of August 1855.

JAMES EDWIN HALSEY.

In the presence of E. FoRMAN, E. B. VVooDwARD.

